Melrose Forest School - Our Curriculum
Each year the Junior girls will be offered approximately a six week block of Forest School sessions. Gradually, they will be taught to use hand tools such as bow saws, sheath knives and bill hooks as well as learning about different fires and their uses. The girls will be taught a variety of skills and knowledge of ideas using resources. Activities may include building dens, weaving, managing the woodland, understanding the seasons, art and drama and counting, collecting and measuring wildlife. However, we are not only adult led some of our activities will be generated by the girls themselves. Skills have been extended into Prep Department.
Activities will be based around three sites within the school grounds. These sites are accessible on foot and the girls do not need to be transported. Predominantly in the outdoor classroom area of the Prep playground.
By using three different areas we hope to reduce the environmental impact. We plan to keep the impact to a minimum by educating the children about which areas they can access and encouraging them to care for their surroundings by putting any creatures they found back into their natural habitat. Although, there may be sessions where the girls have the opportunity to travel to different places on the island.
These outdoor lessons are enjoyed by all ages at Melrose and it allows the girls to develop communication skills, motivate them to work with others positively giving a sense of achievement and success.
The Forest School approach engages all participants through positive experiences and achievable tasks. Each year the girls build on skills they have learnt, including using a range of tools to create woodland mobiles, dream catches and 3D shapes. This has allowed the learners to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and themselves.
